Preparation and Properties of Paraffin/PMMA Shape-stabilized Phase Change Material for Building Thermal Energy Storage

The composite phase change material(PCM) consisting of phase change paraffin(PCP) and polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) was prepared as a novel type of shape-stabilized PCM for building energy conservation through the method of bulk polymerization. The chemical structure, morphology, phase change temperature and enthalpy, and mechanical properties of the composite PCM were studied to evaluate the encapsulation effect of PMMA on PCP and determine the optimal composition proportion. FTIR and SEM results revealed that PCP was physically immobilized in the PMMA so that its leakage from the composite was prevented. Based on the thermo-physical and mechanical properties investigations, the optimal mass fraction of PCP in the composite was determined as 70%. The phase change temperature of the composite was close to that of PCP, and its latent heat was equivalent to the calculated value according to the mass fraction of PCP in the composite. For estimating the usability in practical engineering, thermal stability, reliability and temperature regulation performance of the composite were also researched by TG analysis, thermal cycling treatments and heating-cooling test. The results indicated that PCP/PMMA composite PCM behaved good thermal stability depending on the PMMA protection and its latent heat degraded little after 500 thermal cycling. Temperature regulation performance of the composite before and after thermal cycling was both noticeable due to its latent heat absorption and release in the temperature variation processes. The PCP/PMMA phase change plate was fabricated and applied as thermal insulator in miniature concrete box to estimate its temperature regulation effect under the simulated environmental condition. It can be concluded that this kind of PCP/PMMA shape-stabilized PCM with the advantages of no leakage, suitable phase change temperature and enthalpy, good thermal stability and reliability, and effective temperature regulation performance have much potential for thermal energy storage in building energy conservation.

Melting Intercalation Method to Prepare Lauric Acid/Organophilic Montmorillonite Shape-stabilized Phase Change Material

A kind of novel shape-stabilized phase change material （SSPCM） was prepared by using a melting intercalation technique. This kind of SSPCM was made of lauric acid （LA） as a phase change material and organophilic montmorillonite （OMMT） as a support material. And the thermal properties and morphology of the SSPCM were characterized by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, transmission electron microscope （TEM）, scanning electronic microscope （SEM）, scanning calorimeter （DSC）, and differential thermal cravimetry （TG）. The DSC result shows that the phase change temperature of the SSPCM is close to that of LA, and its latent heat is equivalent to that of the calculated value based on the mass ratio of LA measured by TG. The XRD, SEM and TEM results demonstrate that the LA intercalates into the silicate layers of the OMMT, thus forming a typically intercalted hybrid, which can restrict the molecular chain of the LA within the structure of OMMT at high temperature. And consequently SSPCM can keep its solid state during its solid-liquid phase change processing.

A New Kind of Shape-stabilized Phase Change Materials

Based on the lowest melting point and Schroeder’s theoretical calculation formula,nano- modified organic composite phase change materials（PCMs）were prepared.The phase transition temperature and the latent heat of the materials were 24℃and 172 J/g,respectively.A new shape-stabilized phase change materials were prepared,using high density polyethylene as supporting material.The PCM kept the shape when temperature was higher than melting point.Thus,it can directly contact with heat transfer media.The structure,morphology and thermal behavior of PCM were analyzed by FTIR,SEM and DSC.

Preparation and Characterization of KNO3/Diatomite Shape-Stabilized Composite Phase Change Material for High Temperature Thermal Energy Storage

A new potassium nitrate （KNO3）]diatomite shape-stabilized composite phase change material （SS- CPCM） was prepared by the mixing and sintering method. KNO3 served as the phase change material （PCM） for thermal energy storage, while diatomite acted as the carrier matrix to provide the structural strength and prevent the leakage of PCM. It was found that KNO3 could be retained 65 wt% into pores and on surfaces of diatomite without the leakage of melted KNO3 from the SS-CPCM. The calculated filling rate of molten KNO3 that could enter into the disc-like shape pore of diatomite verified the scanning elec- tronic microscopy images of SS-CPCM. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results showed that no reaction occurred between KNO3 and diatomite, performing good compatibility. Accord- ing to the differential scanning calorimetry results, after 50 thermal cycles, the phase change temperatures for melting and freezing of SS-CPCM with 65 wt% KNO3 were changed from 330.23 ℃ and 332.90 ℃ to 330.11 ℃ and 332.84 ℃ and corresponding latent heats varied from 60.52 J/g and 47.30 J/g to 54.64 J/g and 41.25 J/g, respectively. The KNO3/diatomite SS-CPCM may be considered as a potential storage media in solar power plants for thermal energy storage.